Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs against the Erik Walden #93 of the Green Bay Packers on December 30, 2012 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

(credit:Andy Clayton King/Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December, team officials announced Thursday.

The award comes with little surprise as Peterson has had a dominant season for the Vikings coming off major knee surgery. It’s the first time he’s won the award in his career. During December, Peterson led the NFL with 135 carries and had an NFL record 861 rushing yards.

Peterson finished the season just the seventh player in NFL history with 2,000 or more rushing yards in the regular season. He fell just short of Eric Dickerson’s regular season rushing record. Peterson is the first Viking to receive the award since Brett Favre in November of 2009.

The monthly honors didn’t stop there. Kicker Blair Walsh was named the Special Teams Player of the Month for December. He’s been one of the biggest bright spots for the Vikings this season.

It’s the first time since 1994 that a Vikings kicker has earned the honor. Percy Harvin earned the award back in September as a kick returner.

Walsh, who was drafted by the Vikings after they waived Ryan Longwell, is 11 of 12 on field goals in December and is also a perfect 14-of-14 on extra points. For the season, Walsh is 10-of-10 on field goals of more than 50 yards, which includes a 5-of-5 mark in December.

Walsh was also second in the NFC with 12 touchbacks on kickoffs in December.

The Vikings face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Playoffs Saturday night.